The Billionaire Ritual by Amy Malone Read Free Book Online Page B

the center hit with a narrow shaft of light from above.
    Cameron swallowed hard as strained his eyes against the light at the summon podium. For minute or so there was nothing but silence and Cameron became concerned that no one was actually there, but a voice spoke.
    “Cameron, you have been summoned by the High Council of the House of Wolves. Do you know why?”
    There could be only one reason.
    “The mate selection ceremony. The details have all been arranged. Is there an issue?”
    Cameron suppressed a smirk at the stunned silence. There were few who dared to speak to any council of any rank in such a manner, less to a High Council. However, Cameron was no fool. If the High Council was gathered, then politeness would not change the outcome of the situation. Probably, it had already been decided before he entered the room. The voice spoke once again:
    “As you know, if you fail to secure a mate by your four-hundredth moon, any male blood relation may challenge your house leadership by death match.”
    A jolt ran through Cameron as the words rang in his ears. There was a brief moment of confusion in his mind before the truth shone through like a startling revelation: someone was challenging his house leadership. His mind raced to brace himself for what could be coming next. Who had challenged him? Who would dare? He got along with most of his male kin, and he was his father’s only heir. The distant relations were either interested more in the political struggles in their own areas or barely participated in council matters at all, choosing their human side over their inner beast.
    In the seconds as his mind raced, he realized that there was someone who would challenge him. After all, he might be his fathers’ only heir, but he wasn’t his father’s only child . He had a sister who, along with him, had been the only surviving wolf cubs of his liter. It couldn’t be her though. Only male wolves were allowed to vie for succession, a fact his sister was familiar with only all too well.
    “Who challenges me?” Cameron said, his back straightening, his demeanor become more intimidating.
    A second shaft of light shone onto another podium, some feet ahead of him. Two guards stood on either side. They each held ceremonial staffs, but Cameron was sure each would have a side arm. Fighting during a council meeting was absolutely forbidden, but it was not unheard of for a challenged wolf to tear his opponents’ throat out on the spot.
    Into the shaft of light came a form, wearing a white robe that was identical to either white guard. Cameron saw now that wearing a suit had been a mistake. This person, whoever they were, had chosen the ceremonial white robes of his clan over him, the person who was supposed to be rightful successor. Two hands removed his hood to reveal his face. It was Robert.
    “I Robert Caine challenge you, Cameron Caine, on condition that you do not find your life mate by the four-hundredth full moon of your life.”
    Cameron felt his blood boil in his veins, and found himself suddenly grateful that there were guards. While he treasured and embraced his inner wolf as a part of himself, he did not like to lose control of it anymore than of his inner human. He was sorely tempted to do so.
    Robert Caine was relatively minor cousin, but one whom he had grown up with since they were both pups. When Cameron’s mother and most of his brothers and sisters had died during childbirth, Robert’s mother had been a stand-in mother for both Cameron and his sister, Caitlin. Robert and he hadn’t spoken for years, but it still stung. He wanted to ask why he had done this privately, but the challenged and the challenger were forbidden to meet outside of the council chambers until their battle. Prevention of foul play was the reasoning, but Cameron suspected it also prevented reconciliation just as often - if not more.
    More to the point, Cameron had less than no desire to kill Robert and even less to kill the only son of